Weltin, Streb and Weltin, LLP

Philip R. Weltin

Philip Weltin founded Weltin, Streb Weltin LLP in 1972 and has been a trial attorney in the state of California since 1970. Philip is an expert in the areas of maritime law (including Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA) and Jones Act claims), insurance coverage/bad faith, employment disputes, product liability and personal injury claims. Mr. Weltin is a noted trial attorney in the Bay Area, and has been on the winning side of numerous substantial cases before a jury involving wrongful death. Philip was selected to the Northern California Super Lawyers 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017, and is AV-rated by his peers.

Education & Experience:

Juris Doctor from Golden Gate University in 1969
Bachelor of Science from San Jose State University, with honors, in 1964
Member of the American Board of Trial Advocates
Member of the American Association for Justice
Served in the USN Submarine Service on board the “Tang” SS-563

Significant representations:

Castillo v. Toll Bros. Inc. (2011) 197 Cal. App. 4th 1172
Mendoza v. Brodeur, 142 Cal. App. 4th 72 (2006).
Springmeyer v. Ford Motor Co., 60 Cal. App. 4th 1541 (1998).
Olson v. American Bankers Ins. Co., 30 Cal. App. 4th 816 (1996).
Avery v. United States, 829 F.2d 817 (9th Cir. 1987).
Dugas v. C. Brewer & Co., Ltd., 165 Cal. App. 3d 203 (1985).
Perry v. Heckler, 722 F.2d 461 (9th Cir. 1983).

Patrick B. Streb

Mr. Streb has over 25 years’ of experience representing maritime workers and members of various unions including the ILWU, SUP, MFOW, Operating Engineers, Iron Workers, IBU, AMO, MEBA and IOMM&P of which he is a past member.

In the past, Patrick has sailed as a licensed U.S. Coast Guard deck officer for various United States shipping companies, totaling to more than 10 years of experience. Additionally, he has experience working aboard tug boats, barges, fishing vessels, offshore supply vessels and other small craft. This experience has allowed him to become an expert in piloting, navigation, boat handling, weather readings, cargo handling as well as maritime safety. He was honorably discharged with the title of Lieutenant from the United States Naval Reserve.

Martindale-Hubbel has awarded Mr. Streb with the AV-rating, which represents the highest level of professional excellence.

Education:

Juris Doctor from Marshall Law School in Cleveland, Ohio in 1977.
Bachelor of Science Degree in Marine Transportation from the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York in 1973.

Memberships & Experience:

Admitted to the Practice of Law: Ohio 1978, California 1984, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California 1985, Southern District of California 1987, U.S Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit 1991, Fourth Circuit 2000.
Arbitrator and mediator, San Francisco and Alameda counties.
Panelist for San Francisco Superior Court Arbitration Settlement Conference.
Past Instructor, maritime law, Industrial Claims Association.
Panelist at various seminars on maritime law, the LHWCA and the Defense Base Act.
Member, American Association for Justice (AAJ) and Consumer Attorneys of California.
Judge Pro Tem, San Francisco Superior Court.

David B. Weltin

Mr. Weltin joined our firm in 2005, initially working as a clerk and then as an attorney. David specializes in workers’ compensation, employment, insurance coverage/bad faith, personal injury and consumer protection cases. Mr. Weltin is a current member of the California Bar and is fluent in Spanish.

Education & Experience:

Juris Doctor from Santa Clara University, in 2007.
Bachelor of Arts from the University of California at Berkeley in 2000.
Awarded the Witkin Award for Academic Excellence in Consumer Protection while in law school.
Member of the California Applicants’ Attorneys Association.
Voting Member of the LatinoComp Workers’ Compensation Organization.

Ryan M. Smith

Ryan grew up in the Bay Area and graduated from the University of San Francisco School of Law in 2011. Ryan interned in the City Ombudsman’s office in Buenos Aires and did housing rights work for earthquake victims in Haiti while completing his certificate in International and Comparative Law, which he obtained with Honors.

Ryan’s legal work since graduating has exclusively dealt with aiding injured workers with their workers’ compensation claims, from orthopedic injuries to cumulative trauma and mental health injuries. Ryan believes that it is important to have a strong advocate at all phases of litigation and he routinely fights for denied treatment and denied benefits. Whether through negotiation or litigation, Ryan is committed to obtaining the best outcome possible for his clients.

Mike Villeggiante

Mike Villeggiante’s practice is focused on personal injury claims and claims brought by injured workers under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA) and Jones Act. Over the years, his work has included cases involving maritime and other workplace accidents, workplace hearing loss, motor vehicle collisions, food poisoning, defective products, improperly maintained property, and public entity negligence. He has practiced before a variety of California state superior courts and federal district courts, as well as the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Department of Labor’s Office of Administrative Law Judges, and the Benefits Review Board. Mr. Villeggiante is a member of the California State Bar and the Alameda County Bar Association. Prior to joining the firm, he received his law degree from Duke University, where he was a staff editor with the Duke Journal of Constitutional Law & Public Policy. He is also a graduate of Sonoma State University, Santa Rosa Junior College, and the College of San Mateo. In his free time, Mr. Villeggiante serves as a local high school baseball and football official.

Education and Experience:

Juris Doctor from Duke University School of Law, May 2012.
Staff Editor/Senior Staff Editor, Duke Journal of Constitutional Law & Public Policy.
Pro Bono Certificate.
Bachelor of Arts from Sonoma State University, May 2009. Majored in economics, history, and political science; minored in applied statistics.

Significant representations:
◦ Jordan v. SSA Terminals, LLC, 973 F.3d 930 (9th Cir. August 28, 2020)

Publications:
◦ Snyder v. Phelps: First Amendment B oundaries on Speech Based Tort Claims, 6 Duke J. Const. Law & Pub. Pol’y Sidebar 41 (2011)